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Neo
Even aggressive
dogs deserve a chance.
When he was
about 4 months old, someone decided they didn't want him anymore
and dumped him in the empty ball field next to my house. The mailman tried to
get him out, but he growled at the mailman and wouldn't go near him. I tried to
get him out, but all his hair came up and he growled at me. I didn't want
to get bit, so I left him there. Several hours later, he was still trapped in
the ball field. Determined to set him free, I went over to the field and
spent 1/2 an hour talking through the fence to the oversized puppy that wanted
nothing to do with me. I finally convinced him that I was okay, that I meant him
no harm, and he decided to come to the gate to meet me. I pulled the gate
out far enough for the young pup to squeeze through and released him from his
gigantic prison. I truly believed he would go home, but he didn't; he followed
me back to my house.
My
family fell in love with him immediately and wanted to keep him; I had
reservations. I could tell, this new dog was trouble. Three days after his
arrival, my son and his family visited. This four month old pup backed my
son's wife right into a wall. A few days later, he trapped a friend on the
front porch and bit him. Luckily for us, the pup only got his shirt. Not only
was he ferocious, he was also afraid of everything around him. The ringing of
the phone, the washing machine, clanging pots and pans, everything frightened
him. And when we tried to take him for a walk on a leash, all he did was spin in
a circle.
This dog was
nothing like Koko. He was extremely aggressive and still just a pup. He was
going to be a large dog, being a possible Shepherd/Rott mix. I estimated his
final weight to be about 80-90 lbs. (I was wrong. He's about 120 lbs.) He was a
dominate dog and I knew he would always challenge us for leadership until his
last breath. I knew this dog would not be an easy dog to own.
Learning how to
train a dog to be the companion animal you want is no easy task, especially when
the dog wants to be the boss. I read several dog training books, watched
numerous dog training videos, and spent a year with Neo in obedience classes for
aggressive dogs.
Crate training
was the key to our success with Neo, along with the obedience classes and the
determination to be great dog owners. I will never try to train a dog again
without a crate. Housebreaking is a snap, and you have a place to put the dog,
where they can't get into trouble, when you aren't in the mood to babysit
anymore. Training requires being on-the-spot at all times for corrections to bad
behaviour. Every missed opportunity for training sets you back by weeks; for
once a dog learns how to be sneaky, it becomes a lot harder to break
bad habits.
I spent a year or
more in intensive training, working with Neo every day to calm him down and
gain his trust. He graduated in the top of his class in obedience training. He
knew how to behave in public, for the most part. I still had a huge problem with
his aggressiveness towards other people. Neo, unfortunatley, has bitten many
people, including Pat and I. First time I've ever been bit by a dog, and it was
my own dog. It makes you think twice about how you approach dogs you don't know.
Neo always seemed friendly and, because of his good looks and manners, everyone
was always trying to touch him. He was fine in public; unless someone looked
directly at him, talked to him, or tried to touch him. Then he'd bite. On the
bright side, I am happy to report that Neo hasn't bitten anyone in more than
three years now.
Being a biting
dog, Neo would have been put down had he gone to the pound. But then no one
would have ever experienced the beautiful dog that he is inside. He is my best
friend. Yes, he bit me, but why? He was challenging me for leadership, the way
any dog challenges another for the position. It is a natural reaction for a dog.
He lost the fight and he knows it. He did bite others, but why? We aren't sure,
but something in his past was so tramatic for him that he lost his
ability to trust people.
Except for the
biting, Neo is the perfect companion. He helped me with my Avon business by
carrying orders and brochures on deliveries with me. He is so well-mannered
that he was allowed into the businesses I serviced. He has entertained the
masses at outdoor events I set up shop at with his bubble-chasing antics. He's a
great camping dog. He loves to be in the water with us. He enjoys going to watch
the fireworks with us on the Fourth. He has traveled to other States many times
with us. Everyone who knows Neo, loves Neo.
Because of Koko,
being the great dog that she was and our love for her, we knew what had to be
done for Neo. He got the time, training, and attention he needed to become
a great dog too. Now, because of Neo, being the difficult case that he was, we
were ready for Zeus.
Please click on a
photo thumbnail to see it in display size.
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